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Archive for March 21st, 2011

 

Paulo is wearing “Take Flight” from Le Top’s 2010 Fall/Winter collection.

When you schedule playdates in advanced, you hope the weather will be warm enough so you can meet up with your child’s friends at the park. I like meeting at a playground because it gives Paulo a chance to run around and burn off energy so that he naps well in the afternoon. Since we can’t always rely on the weatherman’s forecast, my Mommy friends and I always have a back-up place to meet in case it’s raining or if it’s too cold. That place is our local Barnes & Noble. Unfortunately, this is the back-up plan for everyone else, too. But that’s okay. It works out somehow.

Our bookstore has a train table in the children’s book section. They have a few trains for the kids to play with, and it’s cute (and sometimes not-so-cute) to see them learn how to share. Parents are also allowed to pick up a book from the shelves and read to their children. They have a little table and a few chairs, or you can even sit on the floor with your child on your lap and spend a quiet moment entertaining them with a story or two. Once a week, our bookstore has Story Time. The kids sit around the stage area while one of the staff members reads to the children. At the end of Story Time, they provide a small snack. Best part of Barnes & Noble? They have a Starbucks so I can order a grande soy caramel macchiato with whipped cream and enjoy drinking it while Paulo plays at the train table. Bliss!

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So upon my research of St. Patrick’s Day, I found this fantastic rainbow cupcake recipe. Why does it have to be for St. Patti’s Day – why not to celebrate spring? Rainbows, spring showers, flowers…it added a smile to my face and though I would share this great idea with you!

INGREDIENTS:

  • White cake mix (from the box…18 ¼ ounce box)
  • Food coloring (red, blue, green and yellow)
  • Baking cups
  • Whipped cream or vanilla frosting


INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prepare your favorite white cake mix, then divide the batter evenly among six small bowls. Following the chart below, dye each bowl of batter a rainbow color.

FOR RAINBOW COLOR = DROPS OF FOOD COLORING:

Purple  =  9 red and 6 blue drops

Blue  =  12 drops

Green  =  12 drops

Yellow  =  2 drops

Orange  =  12 yellow and 4 red drops

Red  =  18 drops

 
2. Line 16 muffin pan wells with baking cups.

3. Evenly distribute the purple batter among the cups, then the blue, and so on, following the order shown. As you go, gently spread each layer of batter with the back of a spoon to cover the color underneath.

4. Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe directions. Before serving, remove the paper wrapping, and if you like, top each cupcake with a whipped-cream cloud of whipped cream or vanilla frosting.

For that perfect spring outfit for the kids
shop Le Top’s spring 2011 collection here
or
Rabbitmoon’s spring 2011 collection here

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